The most Dangerous Paraben of Them All

This took place in 2011, but because misinformation still seems to be circulating (!), here’s a fresh peek at an old story.

After running into the name Polyparaben a few times during a research session, my curiosity got the better of me and I simply had to take a bit of time to investigate further.

Was this some new paraben type that had just hit the market? My initial search showed this was not the case.

Perhaps a Scientific Term for Cosmetics Insiders?

'Poly' comes from Greek and means multiple or many, so perhaps polyparaben was a term used within some circles to describe 'a mix of parabens'. Even though I'd never seen or heard it used as such, it certainly wasn't impossible.

But no.

The Hazard Warning

It was when I came across polyparaben on the EWG cosmetics ingredients watchlist that I really got serious about researching this further. The EWG listed it with Hazard Warning.

The reason? 'due to lack of information about this ingredient'. (I kid you not)

No wonder there was a ‘lack of information’. The fact that there is no such ingredient as polyparaben seemed to have escaped them completely. (They have since corrected the information on their website, but it I remember it taking longer than one might expect)

Commonly Used Parabens

Here are the parabens that have been/are most commonly used in cosmetics.

• Butylparaben

• Isobutylparaben

• Ethylparaben

• Methylparaben

• Propylparaben

• Isopropylparaben

There are others such as Heptylparaben, but I have yet to come across this particular paraben in the world of cosmetics and skin care.

Of the above listed, the following have undergone (the most recent) study for claims of possible hormonal interference:

• Butylparaben

• Isobutylparaben

• Propylparaben

• Isopropylparaben

Leaving these 2 parabens on the ‘OK’ list:

• Ethylparaben

• Methylparaben

And as of December 2010 (and again in 2013 - see link below), the SCCS approved butylparaben and propylparaben for use in cosmetics.

So How Was Polyparaben Born?

Here’s what I think happened: someone misread, mispelled and/or mispronounced propylparaben, passed the 'information' on to someone else, and voilá – the most dangerous paraben type of all was born – the nonexistent one!

See the 2013 opinion by the SCCS on the use of Parabens in cosmetics.

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